Global Fund partnership in Africa

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria has announced a partnership with Standard Bank to help combat illnesses in African countries.

As part of the pilot agreement, Standard Bank will offer financial management and support to countries which have been awarded a Global Fund grant.

The scheme will be available in a limited number of African nations to start with, although an extension across the whole continent is expected.

Dr Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund, said that the agreement with Africa's largest bank shows that the region's corporate sector "is ready to play a constructive role in the fight against Aids, tuberculosis and malaria".

"Business competencies make a difference," added fellow executive director John Tedstrom.

"By deploying its experts in financial management to support program implementers, Standard Bank will dramatically increase the effectiveness of the money invested by the Global Fund."

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